Running Cold..

[TimO]

Hi All,

 

Just bought a 52 plate C3 1.6 Exclusive. Not entirely new to Citroen - my first car was a 2CV!

 

When i'm pootling around or on a motorway run the temp gauge only has 2 bars, only very rarely 3 (1/2 way). Is this completely normal or is it a new thermostat job? or something similar?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Tim

[chris farrell]

I have a C3 Pluriel 1.6 (2004) had for 4 years and my temp gauge is and always has been reading similair to yours - so i would say no real problem.

[paul.h]

The temperature indication by bars is not that accurate, if you plug in a code reader with live data you will get the values. The thermostat is meant to start opening at 89°C for petrol engines so you could see if it is working by feeling the hoses/radiator. The engine fan cuts in at 96°C which you should be able to achieve by leaving the engine running with the car parked for some time and the air con switched off (this puts on the fan regardless of engine temp). On our 1.4 petrol the second bar lights up about 70°C and the 3rd bar at about 80°C to over 96°C and I have only seen more than 3 bars on 2 occasions in 3 years but then did not have the code reader plugged in. It only runs on 2 bars in the winter. The cabin heater on our car is the hottest I have ever had so using this as an indication of a bad thermostat may not help.

[TimO]

Thanks for that guys, a great help. In addition to the comment about a code reader, what is the best type to get, and are all C3's compatible? ( and the big question - how much! :-) )

 

Cheers

 

Tim

[paul.h]

Gendan do a good range. I got the Sealey one for Citroens (we have C3/4/5) but you do not need to pay that much. You can contact them about coverage but this one works on our 2003 1.4 petrol. They should all work from 2001 for petrol and 2004 for diesel - the Sealey one works on our 2004 mark 1 C5 2.2hdi.

[TimO]

Thanks for your help all.

 

Tim